Annabelle’s Diner serving 1950’s food, nostalgia in Mentor more than 30 years

Annabelle’s Diner in Mentor attracts a wide variety of vintage vehicles to its Saturday night car cruises - in place since it moved to Mentor in 1985.
Carrie Garland — The News-Herald

The hustle and bustle along Tyler Boulevard — Mentor’s main industrial corridor — is largely tamed on weekends.

But as the summer season arrives, a spot off the beaten path begins to heat up with the weather.

From the time one turned onto Twinbrook Road on a recent Saturday night, a mass of muscle cars and vintage vehicles could be seen sprawling out from a 1950’s-style silver trailer.

Customers have been swarming to Annabelle’s Diner for Saturday night cruise-ins since the stainless steel restaurant — a former Kenny Kings dating to 1942 — was renovated and relocated to Mentor from Euclid in 1985.

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The diner, at 8637 Twinbrook, features neon lights, old-fashioned burgers and the “thickest shakes in town,” ’50s photos and memorabilia, a juke box and a cash-only policy.

“The burgers are always killer,” said Concord Township’s Jan Jones, a 1955 Chevrolet owner and a customer for more than 30 years.

On Saturday nights, a band led by owner Chuck Hamilton also helps to attract a crowd.

“We like the music, we look at some cars; it’s a great place to meet people,” said Painesville resident Mary Luhta. She was visiting with a friend on June 3.

“It just reminds me of when we were young.”

The family affair includes Chuck’s wife, Pat, who warmly greets returning customers when she’s not in the kitchen, and daughter, Norma, who mans the register. The three also work “day” jobs at Hamilton Excavating & Trucking nearby.

“We are where people meet and share a common passion for classic cars, and just get to have a good time with friends and family,” Pat said.

She often gets calls from people who patronized Annabelle’s with their parents years ago, moved away and are checking to see whether it’s still open, so they can bring their own children.

“We enjoy hearing all the stories from those who have come to the diner for so many years and love it almost as much as we do,” she said

A proliferation of restaurants and car cruises in the area has slowed business a bit over the years and caused them to curtail hours. Once open year-round, seven days a week, Annabelle’s now operates 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.,​Wednesdays and ​Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., ​Fridays, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays. The season runs from Memorial Day weekend through the end of October, weather-permitting.

“Saturdays are as busy as they were 20 years ago,” Chuck said.

Mike Krakora of Girard has family in the area and decided to drop by June 3. The classic car buff, who owns a ’57 Ford Fairlane 500 and a ’66 Galaxy, said there’s something special about Annabelle’s.

“It’s a more authentic cruising place,” he said. “It’s not just a parking lot.”

Mentor Community Development Director Ronald M. Traub has been a fan for decades.

“Annabelle’s is the real deal: authentic diner, fun diner food and a juke box,” he said. “Sorry we have to wait until Memorial Day — or thereabouts — for the total experience.”

Pat would like to keep improving the spot, possibly adding an outdoor patio or to the decor.

“We are always looking for something unique just like the diner,” she said.

She is thankful for the continued support of faithful longtime customers and the new ones that discover Annabelle’s.

“We hope to continue for many more years, and look forward to many more great times and memories,” she said.